North face 100

The race in months, north face 50km duo, done with alvin. 25km of trail, rocks, excruciating painful ascents was really a hell of experience for me. I always love racing. This race was really fun, despite being the hardest run I have ever done due to its challenging terrain. It’s adventurous and interesting, and feels good to run in the beautiful nature. It’s really exploring something new to me. This is really my first taste of trail running, and I think it will always remain vivid in my mind. This race is not just about the trails, running with a friend really helps a lot through. Alvin and I pushed and motivated each other during the later parts of the race when the pain sets in. Timing wasnt really important, completing the race is already an achievement and accomplishment itself. It was also heart-warming to see that runners care for each other. When I had cramps around 16-17km, I was unable to even walk and I just quietly wished it will disappear quickly. Many runners who passed me asked about me and it just made me feel better in a way. I always think that runners are good-hearted people. haha. I told alvin I will not want to go through this again, but after much thought, it wont be surprising to see me sign up for this again. Yes it’s madness, it’s painful, it’s arduous, but i love it. This race also reignites my love for long distance, as I love the physical and mental tortures that come along with it. It just made me feel more alive. Feeling all those aches now, but I’m smiling. Evil grin.

Pain is temporary, quitting is forever. can you endure?

the weekend that was

i love ice cold booze

Sunday night was spent at the sanctuary with a few bottles of heineken, accompanied with some acoustic sets and cheyenne’s takeaway mexican food. The booze really gave me a deep slumber.

Today’s shopping.

Good old times

It has been a long hiatus, life’s getting better but nothing still beats being a civillian. Last few days have been unwell, and stayed home for four days on my off week. What luck, but it has been feeling a bit sick of stepping outside too. Well, whenever I’m at home, I’m always pretty much doing the same things like what I did back a few years ago. And I dont think it will change much a few years later. The usual things will comply of listening to the beatles, playing my guitar and reading. I never get sick of things when I fall in love with it.

Anyway, I have been thinking about the old times(all related to my running experience). And sometimes i think it’s scary. Random thoughts: how I manage to run 40 rounds around the track all by myself  and never get sick of it, by the way I did that like a few times. Secondly, I thought of the 30km I did alone along ecp on a sunday evening while preparing for ge pacesetters, and getting all thrashed and hungry after that, but still I manage to finish it. Thirdly, I wonder how I find the drive to step out of house after music theory class at 9pm to do hill repeats along tanah merah area. Also, the energy to run almost everyday after work and only having dinner at nine and still being so full of energy. At that time, I feel life’s so great. Lastly, I think of the days I manage school with dragonboating, running and football with friends. Oh god it’s madness, running 10km after school followed by the gymwork and the paddling. And it has been a weekly affair for almost half a year.  

You know all these thoughts scare me, like how in the hell I did it. I know I will go through all these good times again after my army days and I really cant wait for it. And you know what’s the last thing on my mind, how I feel so unfit presently thanks to army. yes it’s a bit ironic but it’s true. I hate it so much.

Restart and rediscover

Weather’s super cooling, while you feel the wind softly blowing into your face. This makes a perfect lazy sunday afternoon for me, accompanied with billy preston’s cover of the beatles’ ‘I’m looking through you’ playing. I havent felt this way for a long time.

Yesterday, I went for a short run for approximately 9k, putting on my compression tights for the first time. The run was hard, my calfs felt tired after a short while, and I took a few walk breaks in between. It’s okay, since I havent been running for quite some time, and this is a normal experience. Well, I dont really feel frustrated or upset about it, it just indicates I have work to do. I’m rediscovering the zest of running and really wants to run daily now if time permits. I’m seeking back the enjoyment of running again, yay!

Gotta train

Yes it has been a long hiatus. Training schedule has been really hectic with little sleep. I really look forward to the imminent closing of course and also to the long weekend. The exhaustion’s taking its toll on my body, and I really need my rest.

I seem to deviate from my target of achieving my 10-k timing as I find it difficult to draw time to train efficiently. I really miss those days whereby I get to run almost everyday. My stamina is going downstream. That will mean I have to pick it up again from the start. Sometimes, I do think of giving up on training but i know it’s not possible as running is a really big part of my life. Probably, I hope to run more often after my course.

Anyway, I really love my bunk mates. They’re awesome!

hmmm

My mind has cleared up more now. I felt better after meeting my buddies over some coffee, shared jokes and reminiscing about our good old school days. It always feel good to think about it, because those were the fun moments of my life.

Life’s not really a smooth sailing journey, and I should just take the imminent training in stride. It will be a good learning experience to undergo some hardship. Only tough training will make me become fitter. The last two months seem to be a mess and I will want to do something meaningful for the rest of my ns life.

Some things I want to do:

- master a new language, probably japanese

- take up driving lessons and attain my driving license

-master playing tommy emmanuel pieces on my guitar

-pick up professional photography skills

-learn some decent cooking

Yes, I’m excited now.

failed soldier

Yes I know it has been some time. I have many thoughts running through, but always feel lazy to pen it down. Block leave has been great, I really have forgotten that I’m still a soldier. Sometimes, I do not know how I’m gonna adapt back to army life when I book in next week. I’m kind of trying to find back the lifestyle I used to have before army, and doing the things I like.

For the past months before army, I ran near 50km each week, and it’s almost impossible to be able to do that now. I guess my discipline level has dropped. Sometimes, I really ponder what I want in life. Is it really possible for me to run a sub 3-hr marathon in the near future? Even I do so, does it really matter? I’m kind of doubting my potential and passion. Well, somehow I know I cant let these thoughts slip through into my head.

Anyway I was posted to become a bridge engineer. Yes, it will be my vocation for the rest of my ns life. I dont really know what to say, but I feel really down upon recieving this posting. I’m gonna become a man, all the talking of sergeants and officers seem like just crap talk now. I just realise I really have big egos, being just a man makes me feel like a real loser and there’s no way to reverse the fact. I really do not know how to console myself and it seems like there’s nothing to look forward to. There’s no pride and glory at all. I really hate myself now. All I can look forward to is meeting nice poeple, train myself really hard and achieves my running target. Soldier wise, I have failed already.

Piggy Piggy

Kingsford Goes to the Beach – Click here for the most popular videos

Saw this on jeanette’s blog and find it really amusing so decided to post it here. enjoy!

Beautiful Sunday

awesome voice and great song, lits up my day.

Unfit to run, damn

Woke up around 7 plus this morning despite turning in at 1 plus the last night. Initially, the plan was to head to ecp for an easy 10k, and meet team fatbird to collect my tights. Well, but my body isnt really 100%, and I didnt want to worsen my recovery process. The desire to run is really huge, and I’m kind of being overwhelmed with guilt now. Guilty of not working out, losing fitness. I think this feeling happens to all athletes. It’s kind of boring that I woke up so early and I cant do something I wanted to do.

Well, I just have to be realistic. Too bad, I got sick and I’m unfit to run. Maybe I can do some core work and also have some time for reading, sounds great.